Echoes of the Week

The Illustrated London News,
vol. 44,
no. 1264,
p. 599.

June 18, 1864

ECHOES OF THE WEEK.

Those pleasant affiches from which the general public gather their
evening news have startled us lately by the different complexion which
they make the truth wear. Jesting Pilate, as in Bacon's beautiful
essay, might well inquire what truth was, nor be expected to "tarry an
answer," if he had but one week's reading of the placards of the
pro-Southern and the pro-Northern journals. The pro-Southern journals
give details which the pro-Northern suppress--at least on their
placards--unpleasant details, and give a couleur-de-rose glow to the defeats and troubles of
Grant which should earn the eternal gratitude of that
Caledonian-Yankee. Thus, we hear that he has been reinforced; that he
is victorious; that he has taken rifle-pits; outmarched, outflanked,
and outwitted his enemy; and that the Southern cause grows every day
more desperate. From the Standard placards we
have a very different tale. Federal defeats form the staple of its
announcements, and it rejoices so much in these that it does not, like
the Star, throw in a "horrid murder" to enliven
the sympathies of its readers when low under pressure and
defeat. What, indeed, is one horrid murder, committed by a
half-maddened sot or love-stricken potboy, to the grand announcement,
"7000 Federals slain"? Do we sufficiently comprehend numbers to
realise the fact in all its horrors? As many men killed as would fill
one of our decent, pretty county towns; as many soldiers destroyed as
we have sometimes in the whole of England--certainly about as many as
garrison the south of our island; and for what? in an obscure skirmish
at along distance from home and in an expedition which is pretty sure
to be a failure. No wonder that the price of gold goes up and up in
the North, that the Government trembles, and that men prophesy a
collapse, in which the deceived and outraged people will turn on their
rulers and rend them. Adversity will bear the same precious lesson to
that very young nation which she brings to all; and it is to be hoped
that a crowning defeat of Grant will bring an overture of
peace. Opposed to victorious troops who are safe in rifle-pits and
intrenchments, while his are in the open, and obliged to purchase
every forward movement by an exhausting loss, even that brave and
obstinate General must in all likelihood yield. If, however, he should
enter Richmond as a conqueror, he will be President of the North; if
he fail, Mr. Lincoln will continue in power, stronger by a new lease,
and able to make that peace which he so ardently
desires....